The U.K. National Crime Agency says it rescued more than 400 children from sexual abuse after a lengthy investigation this year.
Authorities arrested 660 pedophilia suspects in this six-month operation. The majority had clean records — only 39 of those arrested were registered sex offenders. (Via Getty Images)
And the BBC says these arrests are just "the tip of the iceberg."
The NCA says among those arrested were doctors, teachers, scout leaders, care workers and former police officers.
The charges for these suspects range from possessing indecent images of children to assaulting a child. (Via Getty Images)
NCA Deputy Director General Phil Gormley said in a statement: "Our aim was to protect children who were victims of, or might be at risk of, sexual exploitation. A child is victimised not only when they are abused and an image is taken. They are re-victimised every time that image is viewed by someone."
CNN pointed out this comes at a time when child sex abuse is fresh in the minds of U.K. citizens.
Just this month, children's TV personality Rolf Harris was sentenced for sexually assaulting women and girls. (Via Getty Images)
And late last month, health investigators released new details about what they consider possible predatory sexual behavior from late TV host Jimmy Savile. Savile is accused of assaulting more than 500 children, which would make him one of the country's most prolific sexual offenders. (Via CNN, Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Times reports some in the U.K. are now calling for the reintroduction of the death penalty for pedophiles. Britain abolished capital punishment in 1965.
The NCA says it's not sharing exactly how it was able to track down the suspects because it wants to be able to use the same method in the future.
